Cameroon: Pope Leo XIV delivered a pointed rebuke of global leadership during his pastoral visit to Bamenda, Cameroon, on Thursday, warning that a "handful of tyrants" is currently ravaging the world. Speaking in the country’s largest Anglophone city, the American-born pontiff decried the billions of dollars spent on military devastation while resources for healing and restoration remain scarce.

The Pope’s unusually forceful remarks follow a series of public attacks on his leadership by the U.S. administration. Earlier this week, the President criticized Leo XIV on social media, calling his foreign policy "terrible" and labeling the pontiff "weak." In response, the Pope told reporters en route to Africa that he does not fear the administration and that the message of the Gospel should not be manipulated for political or military gain.

Addressing a region that has faced nearly a decade of internal conflict, Leo XIV criticized leaders who use religious language to justify war, stating that "woe to those who manipulate the name of God for their own economic and political gain." He urged a decisive shift in global priorities, emphasizing that while it takes only a moment to destroy, a lifetime is often insufficient to rebuild. The Pope’s tour of Africa continues with scheduled stops in Angola and Equatorial Guinea, focusing on peace and humanitarian support.

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